One Stop Beyond

Photos: Camden Lock Market

emptynester — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 04:05:00 GMT

An unusual day out in London

Little Venice and Camden Lock, London

emptynester — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT

Off the beaten track

What makes the perfect day out in London? I have decided it is going right off the traditional tourist trail and finding the true beat of the city’s heart. Do something different!

That’s exactly what I did yesterday with my friend Wanda (with whom, incidentally, I have hatched one of my many retirement plans – as soon as we get our bus passes, we intend to travel every route in London, checking out watering holes along the way). We had two key objectives – track down a market and find a novel way of getting there. The plan turned out to be pretty straight forward; the result went way beyond our expectations – what a fabulous day out! Here is the basic information if you want to recreate our jolly jaunt.

Purchase a Travel Card and get yourself to Paddington Station
Head for the rear of the concourse and follow the signs to The Grand Union Canal
These signs quickly change to Little Venice which you reach within 15 minutes
Catch a canal boat with The London Waterbus Company
Set sail for Camden Lock (allow an hour for the voyage)
Relish every moment of the Camden Lock Market (currently open 7 days a week)
Follow your street map app and stroll to the Euston Road, taking in the sights of Camden High Street along the way
Turn left for The British Library and take a peek inside
Catch the tube (just to your left) and head straight back to Paddington

Those are the facts; these are some of the realities. The walk from Paddington immediately hints that you have struck gold – walking along the towpath (dodging the occasional cyclist) is a feast for the eyes, with the various barges offering glimpses of alternative living in the city centre. Once you reach Little Venice you (sort of) understand the name – though it’s a bit neater than its original name source! Flanked by tall Georgian residences, weeping willows bend their rippling arms into the slightly algae topped waters, where a myriad of boats ply their trade back and forth across the broad width and length of the shores, flanked by attractive footbridges and a stationary barge set up as a tea room (very handy if, like us, you arrive just as the ferry has left the shore for Camden meaning a one hour wait for the next…)

The good value canal cruise itself passes in the blink of an eye – there is so much to see, including a glimpse inside the Snowden Avery at London Zoo which is a stop along the way. Even the graffiti is an art form! After 50 minutes of pure relaxation, the waterbus moors up quite literally inside the market itself; stepping off the gangplank you barely know where to turn next as your senses are assaulted in all directions. Loud, excited voices ply their trade to the bustling crowds; culturally diverse street food tempts you with its sights and smells; bookshops beckon you and curious steps and staircases drag your eyes upwards towards hidden treasures within Camden’s warehouses. We enjoyed a good three hours here, probably spending too much cash in the process (raiding the convenient cash point) and ended up sat quite literally on the pavement alongside the canal as we tucked into our overflowing £5 feasts of street food – in my case a veggie combo of fresh green salad, cranberries, roasted red cabbage, onion relish and pancakes; for Wanda pulled pork and pickles in a steaming flatbread. What bargains! It was worth the pain when we struggled to get ourselves back on our feet (and I don’t care what anyone says, young British men are amongst the most polite in the world – thank you for your helping hands!). Having taken the obligatory selfie, we then set off for Euston Road on an errand, passing the more conventional Camden Market on route and admiring the gigantic trainers and other art forms attached to many of the shop fronts, weaving in and out of the predominantly young crowd – clearly a cool place to visit!

At the junction with the Euston Road (a straightforward half hour walk from the market, providing you don’t get distracted by all the retail therapy) we turned left for The British Library which was another 50 metres or so. A great institution, enhanced by the free entry and excellent value café inside – where else in London can you get a cuppa for £1.60 and a slice of banana cake for another two quid? We were here without purpose (basically just to have a look), but I imagine you would get even more out of this trip if you planned to source a particular text or explore one of the many exhibitions – currently there is one for the anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. By default, though, I found myself standing transfixed in front of a display of original lyrics written by the Beatles on scraps of paper in a variety of writing implements which somehow aptly matched the boys themselves. It was awe inspiring to read the words of ‘Imagine’ written for the very first time in John’s hand, particularly as I put on the adjacent headphones and was listening to this iconic melody at the same time.

The gift shop was pretty good too!

Photos: Loch Ard Gorge, Australia

emptynester — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 04:05:00 GMT

Scenes that inspired my Scholarship entry

Photos: Alone in Amsterdam

emptynester — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 03:44:00 GMT

Scenes seen whilst travelling solo

Alone in Amsterdam

emptynester — Sun, 31 May 2015 23:05:00 GMT

I realise this is stating the obvious, but Holland is flat. Very. There is also rather a lot of water. Flying from Birmingham to Schiphol is the only time I have ever really listened to the stewardess' advice about life jackets because I could see that if the plane did come down, there was just a slight chance that following the correct procedure might actually save my life – for the last 20 minutes we skimmed low over the sea with land always in sight, approaching the runway with dykes and canals hemming shades of green patchwork.

Another obvious fact. The Dutch love their bikes! This was immediately evident from how whole families were out for the day seemingly just to watch the planes land, attempting to pedal alongside as we approached or having casually dropped their cycles to the ground as they peered at us through binoculars whilst stretched out on picnic rugs.

Following a very straightforward train trip from the airport to Centraal Station (the locomotives run every 10 minutes – look out for the intercity direct as this is the quickest), I had a very close encounter with more than one bicycle (not to mention a couple of trams) as I excitedly stepped from the concourse into the warm spring sunshine, enthralled by the pianist serenading the new arrivals and entranced by my first sight of the bustling city itself. Lesson learnt! Even if you have spotted your hotel on the opposite side of the street, pause, take stock and approach the crossing with care – as a solo traveller the biggest danger lurks in the streets where being hit by a high speed Dutchman is a very real risk. This is a city where everyone cycles – and no one wears a helmet. Whilst I love a bike ride myself, I would be very anxious and cautious about cycling in Amsterdam and it is certainly not something I would advise other singletons to do – you need to be with a partner or in a group should the worst happen and your tyre get stuck in the criss-crossing tram rails, or your balance dislodged by cobblestones.

This is a city that I feel is best explored on foot – and I certainly tramped the streets. That very day was apparently the first truly sunny and warm Sunday of the year and the place was heaving. It was also Pentecost in what is now a predominantly Protestant city. As soon as I had unpacked at the Hotel Barbizon Palace I set forth, heading down the edge of the nearest canal which was very much part of the tourist centre – complete with several ‘Over 18’ coffee shops and an unusually perfumed waft of smoke in the air that has its own story to tell. The many boats and rafts, long, short, home-made or extravagant, cruised the tightly packed waters, with all ages out in force ready to party. And this is certainly the place to party! Hen and stag groups were in abundance, the drinking already in full swing, with the youngsters finding just about everything a source of hilarious laughter (did I really look that funny taking a selfie including the wedge of cheese I’d just bought for lunch? OK, don’t answer that).

During the course of my three night trip this abundance of large groups made me reluctant to go out alone at night, though I did take an evening cruise around the canals and captured a few photos as the lights came on in the tall, narrow, 17^th and 18^th century gabled houses that flanked the myriad waterways. But during the daytime I felt totally safe and loved exploring the tourist sites as well as the quieter backwaters of the ‘real’ Amsterdam. Pre-booked tickets to Anne Frank Huis and the Van Gogh Museum were worth their weight in gold – oh the satisfaction in respect of the former as I strolled past the two hour queue and stepped up to a side door, pressed the button and was admitted by a welcoming young man who waved me in with a flourish! The respectful, poignant atmosphere of the hidden annexe was worth the visit to Amsterdam alone – it has been a life-long ambition to explore the setting for Anne Frank’s diary, one of the most memorable and thought provoking books I have ever read. At more than one point of this particular tour I had tears in my eyes. The pencil marks recording the heights of Anne and her sister Margot, still visible on the faded wallpaper; Anne’s ‘art’ collection of magazine cuttings pasted to the wall of her tiny, narrow bedroom; father Otto’s photo portrait taken in 1960 as he stood in the attic, his eyes etched with sorrow as he remembered the family he had lost.

In contrast, the Van Gogh Museum was a riot of colour and it was awe inspiring to stand literally three feet away from the Sunflowers and other masterpieces – no print can ever do them justice as much of the talent of this tormented genius was his ability to slather on layers of paint creating a shiny texture that is never captured in two dimension. Almost as amazing was the display of Vincent’s letters, mainly to his brother Theo but also to friends and other family members. I hadn’t realised that he was such a talented and prolific letter writer and that within his beautifully crafted, skilled words he also ‘tried out’ ideas for paintings by creating evocative little sketches for the reader to enjoy. Somehow a blog is a tawdry tool by comparison! In fact, so strongly did I feel this that I unearthed my little black Moleskin notebook and recorded some of my private thoughts about the trip in there instead.

On my first evening I sat at a pavement café, and was delighted to be joined by another lady on her own – Marygale from Chicago, who is living and working in Amsterdam. This is one of the advantages of being by yourself – conversations becomes focused and precious when they happen, and you share an hour or so with someone extremely interesting whom you would never have spoken to if travelling as a couple or group. As well as sharing stories about our travels and the lives of our worldwide children, Marygale gave me lots of tips about the city and recommended visiting the free of charge Begijnhof, whose heavily carved door was set close to our table. Through this entrance (beware, it closes at 5pm) is a city centre oasis for single women – Beguines were Catholics who chose not to take their vows and enter a convent, but who still wanted to do ‘good works’. Nowadays Beguines do not exist as they did, but the tall thin dwellings remain around the inner courtyard and the historical buildings are rented out to single ladies. A day or two after my chat with Marygale I walked through that door into this silent enclave which also incorporates a beautiful chapel where I lit a candle, as I always do, for the loved ones I have lost.

The central courtyard of The Begijnhof

As with any short intense trip, there was a lot to take in and enjoy – many, many museums; familiar stores in the city centre, quirky independent traders in the side streets; the canal side flower markets where cannabis plants and seeds are sold alongside tulip bulbs; cheese stores focused on tourists, better value delis for the locals; swing bridges spanning the canals; colourful houseboats broad and low for the rare occasions when they leave their moorings and have to squeeze through squat arches; crazy cyclists who appear out of nowhere; an abundance of creative industries – artists, musicians, film and media; the rich history of a city that was once the most successful trading capital in Europe; ‘working’ ladies in the Red Light district (plus the one I accidentally stumbled upon off a side canal, who glared up at me from the ambient glow of her basement chamber where her middle aged, freckled, ample cleavage was set out like goods on a shelf); blue trams ringing their bells at cyclist and pedestrian alike; a whole range of places to choose from to eat; tourist traps to avoid (how I regretted that combined bus and canal ticket – queueing for almost two hours to ‘hop on’ a bus is not quite what I signed up for) and eclectic local living to embrace.

So what is my favourite memory? Picture this, a popular ‘English Tea Room and Restaurant’ set alongside the banks of one of the quieter canals in Keizersgracht. Greenwoods. When I finally got a table in this tiny place (which I have since discovered is rated number 10 in the whole of Amsterdam by Trip Advisor) I was sat by the square panelled window, with a perfect view of the water outside enhanced by the delightful décor inside – a sage green dresser with a bright red ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ teapot; multi coloured umbrellas casually stood in a brightly shaded antique pot; lime green and lemon checked cushions piled generously on wooden pews and a steaming hot ‘full English’ set on the pine table –alongside a tearsheet of an article by David Nicholls (famous for ‘One Day’ and ‘Us’) spread out before me. As I read his words about researching settings for creative writing I felt a strong connection – particularly when he recounted a section from ‘Us’ inspired by an unfortunate encounter with ancient leather clad bikers in Amsterdam. I had met them too! And it was only by keeping my eyes firmly averted right that I had also avoided an unfortunate encounter outside the Station Hotel!

And my worst memory? That has to be at the Flybe check in desk on the return trip when I was apologetically informed that I had to lose 5kg of luggage or pay a £50 fine. Having dressed for the return trip quite smartly as I had heard that you can get a manicure whilst waiting for your flight, I ended up looking like a bag lady as I had to condense two bags into one, change my smart strollers for trainers, layer on cardigans and top with a packamac, shoving whatever I could into its voluminous pockets – breaking three finger nails in the process.

But at least I had a lovely chat with a Saudi oil mogul on the flight home.

Loch Ard Cemetery

emptynester — Mon, 18 May 2015 00:13:37 GMT

Gusts of freezing wind whirling around tombstones and biting into flesh might seem a strange choice for a travel tale. Yet when we overshot the tourist viewpoint for the limestone stacks of the iconic Twelve Apostles, we stumbled upon a place of haunting spirituality instead.
Leaving the city of Melbourne far behind, our hire car deftly hugged the curving bends of The Great Ocean Road whilst our Aussie based son shrugged off his hangover, distracted by the stunning coastal views of the Pacific. Apollo Bay - white sands, rolling surf, curving shoreline and pathways through gentle dunes – had been the perfect overnight stop for our road trip before continuing east that wintery August dawn. Refusing to turn back after our mistake, we turned left into Broken Head Walk car park, halting by a solitary campervan. We bundled out, added yet more woolly layers, and lurched towards Thunder Cave with our heads bowed against the onslaught.
Preferring to travel out of season as this makes me feel like a ‘traveller’ and not a ‘holiday maker’, the solitude of our stroll along the unsealed track added to the sense of adventure. We quickly gave up trying to converse against the howling wind, separating and walking alone with our thoughts, all vaguely headed towards the cave so clearly and efficiently signposted. With the intrepidness of youth that had brought him to Australia in the first place, junior strode off in front before coming to a sudden stop, gazing into the middle distance. Had the headache bitten again? As his concerned parents ambled to his side, words froze on our lips as we saw what had stalled him at this place - the rear view of the Apostles, with the golden clouds racing beyond; shafts of vivid sunlight piercing through and stabbing the tide surging through the spires. Totally alone, this view was ours.
For a while we stood in awe, before finally admitting defeat as icy paralysis took its hold. Turning as one, we continued towards Thunder Cave where the ocean repeatedly and forcibly ejected itself through the bore hole, our senses clouded by a gentle mist seemingly stretching its fingers into our very souls. But it was the souls of others that truly made this walk so special. That winding path led to one of the most isolated cemeteries in the world – just four bodies were recovered from the 1878 shipwreck of the iron-hulled clipper, Loch Ard. Here they lay at peace, interred in coffins crafted from their ship’s timber. Unforgotten and unforgettable.